1970 American Motors AMX: America's Other 2-Seat Sports Car

[@stewartw.9151]

I had the loan of a 1968 Javelin in about 1973, from a friend who managed a sports car dealership in Newcastle, England. He had taken it in trade against a Porsche 911, and since the market was tough for such oddball (in England) cars at the time, I got the use of it for about 2 months. This was after gasoline had increased in price due to the Arab OPEC embargo, by about 400%! Loved the car, had plenty power and totally reliable, but the steering was on the left, whereas England used right-hand drive. He did finally sell it, and I was sorry to see it go - except for the fuel consumption!

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Great story. Lucky you.

[@joegiardina8415]

Love the car! Nice video, thank you!

[@musclecarcampy9922]

No, thank you. Please share the video with your friends.

[@revanevan]

Cool video, great car.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Thank you!

[@damxgopak457]

So nice it is literally the car of my dreams for the last 45 years.

[@royhorn2782]

Many people don't realize that the AMX with the 390 AMC motor was one of the fastest cars of the time. They were quite quick for something straight off the lot.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

They had a great power to weight ratio. Please share this video with your friends and subscribe if you haven’t already. Thanks for watching.

[@gordocarbo]

3000 lbs, 0-60 in the 5s not many cars back then could do that.

[@victorxavier9977]

Sweet ride Campy thx 😁👍

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Thank you!

[@proracing9025]

I got a 1969 amx 390 4 speed , got in Kenosha

[@onefortheroad2291]

In my opinion one of the two coolest cars AMC built (the other of course being the SC/Rambler!). You’ve been putting out some great content Jim, glad to see you on here!

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Thank you very much. Very kind of you to say. Please share the video with your friends.

[@rickwaldron4255]

AMC also.made a factory gremlin with a 401 4 speed it was pretty quick

[@rickwaldron4255]

It was called a 401 x.r I year only $4000 brand new

[@timtrinkaus7072]

Absolutely stunning highly optioned AMX dream car right there!!

[@musclecarcampy9922]

I love this car, too.

[@bradgrissom5738]

Remember the AMX that Dean Dougherty from Track Time Driving School built with his father? That thing was bad ass!

[@musclecarcampy9922]

He was my first driving instructor at Track Time at Charlotte Motor Speedway and had an AMC Spirit. It was like a Winston Cup car with a hatchback body on it!

[@bradgrissom5738]

Yep he was my first instructor as well. I really enjoyed spending time with he and his father. I remember riding in his car and thinking how are we still on the track. Loads of grip and handling in that monster!

[@deand6474]

Thanks Brad for remembering. Dean

[@deand6474]

@@musclecarcampy9922 Hi Campy, Dean here. Enjoyed our time. Thanks!

[@musclecarcampy9922]

@@deand6474 Wow! Great to hear from you. You thought me so much about driving. I hope you are well. Best weekend I ever had in my Corvette.

[@abetango]

Nice AMX! AMC made some cool cars.

[@beyond_the_infinite2098]

Beautiful AMX. I miss my Green with Shadow Mask 1970 AMX 360 4-speed 3.73 posi. For 1970 Mark Donohue/Roger Penske redesigned the front suspension for Trans-Am racing which improved handling. Also the engine block was revised for improved oiling and new excellent cylinder heads with dog leg ports. 1970 AMX is a special car in many ways.

[@gordocarbo]

Very few knew back then how stout those blocks were..heads had potential, used .904 lifter bores to run a more aggressive ramp on cams...If only Id have known then. Id have made sure to keep my 71 401 SST.

[@curthall9947]

Go Pack... and Go Packers! The 70 AMX was the best for many reasons. 360 4bbl was the base engine (no 290 or 304 2bbl), functional air intake making the Go Pack more than a name, new cylinder head design, you could get both the Rally Pack and AC for the first time, new front suspension design, high back bucket seats, new mirror design and the more aggressive front end look like the '66 Concept. A truly stunning car. If this was the design in '68 and if AMC offered their "dealer group 19" performance items in a factory optional true performance go package, this car would have made a bigger and immediate impact on the automotive world and gained more respect from all other brands.

[@rickwaldron4255]

I saw in a video yesterday a 1977 gremlin 360 4 barrel angenst a Mercedes 500 sl right out the hole there were neck.and neck theyhe little gremlin started pulling farther away and then ilthe 560 sl was spanked

[@rickwaldron4255]

All right AMC kick there ass

[@dynamicfirearmsinc432]

SUPER COOL SUPER CLEAN LOVE IT.

[@edwardkellogg1284]

I own a 1968 AMX 4 speed 390 CI. When I was a kid I seen these cars and fell in love with them. About 20 years ago I bought one. It's a fun car to drive. Lots of power. I did put on dealer installed side pipes which really adds great looks to the car. I do get asked from people what kind of car is this and who made it.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Thanks for watching!

[@CIAVE]

Nice AMX. GoPackGo!

[@glenbard657]

A very sharp looking car. I still prefer the Javelins over the AMXs because I think the rear end looks too stubby on the AMXs. My oldest brother had a blue 1973 Javelin with the Levi's interior. However, he only kept it for about three months because he found the seats to be very uncomfortable. I think the 1968-70 Javelins were much nicer looking than the second generation design.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Personal preference. I prefer the AMX because of the roofline and stubby look. Thanks for watching.

[@gordocarbo]

Samer here. 2nd gen had the upgraded front suspension and 401s Id be just as happy wtih a Jav as an AMX. Dick Teague hit a home run designing this car. Sadly we will never see cars like this again True musclecar far as power to weight. 430 lbs torque and only 3000 lbs!

[@peteskipeteski4464]

Love that you guys made this video. Like the interview while driving it like Jay Leno does. Truly thee coolest ("nostril") Ram-Air hood. If I find my Jimi Hendrix 8-Track, will you play it?

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Here’s another for you: 1968 AMX 390/4-Speed: Ford Man's Dream Car. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXWpiJqZfbmBptE

[@gordocarbo]

Amc and Mopar had some bold cold air hoods that were functional. The fake scoops on most back then seemed lame

[@richardsmith-qy6vl]

Love the AMX it is by far the best looking AMC other then the rambler scrambler the red white and blue ones I always wanted to build a clone and put the same paint sceam on it. I also love the gremlin X those were good looking cars also thanks for the video.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Love to get a SCRambler.

[@gordocarbo]

Growing up I only saw 1 in person...most car guys called them clown cars nobody took them seriously. Ck out autotopiala he has the baddest scrambler Ive ever come across. All motor 401 makes easy 600 plus. Pretty impressive If they didt paint the wheels blue I think that sc rambler would have sold better. The scoop on that one was killer!

[@rickyalvarez5903]

I have a 1979 Jeep Wagoneer and going to dedicate my build to AMC AMC/Javelin. It's Sun Burnt Orange with a 360. Going to Matte Black out the hood and roof with a Hoodscoop. I love AMC. Last of the true American Muscle.

[@gordocarbo]

Those are really getting popular with the resto crowd, back then nobody wanted one. Always wanted a J20? or 10 Pickup those looked tough! Ca has lousy smog laws so Id have to leave it stock which would bug me

[@johncarter1137]

My late buddy had one with a big block Chevy engine that he ran Top Sportsman with. It was a good-looking car.

[@timothyproksch2915]

I always liked these cars. Back on the day I rode in a brand new one with a 390 and a four speed. You don't forget things like that. Wally Booth top pro stock driver at the time had alot to do with those cars they were his sponsor and they were pretty serious about it.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Wally Booth. There is a name from the past. My friend could have had a 390 AMX in ‘79, but he couldn’t pull the trigger because it was an AMC.

[@timothyproksch2915]

@@musclecarcampy9922 I watched Wally Booth take a factory gremlin down the track I think it was Milan dragway in Detroit in the day at 160 mpr in the quarter. First time I saw something like that. It was impressive.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

I used to love going to Englishtown back in the day to see the Pro Stocks-Dyno Don, Jenkins, Glidden, Booth, etc. They were legendary days.

[@rickwaldron4255]

I owned a gremlin x levie interior 304 4 spped it was stock and would lift the front wheels pretty inpresive for a small.moter

[@gordocarbo]

Lift the front off the ground like a wheelie? Tough to believe...sure it seemed like it form weight transfer Friend had a Levi edition Jeep from that era

[@gordocarbo]

Favorite dash/gauge layout of any old car! Had a chance mid 90s to buy a 70..loaded, 4 sod ac orig light yellow/black. I missed out by1 day...coulda had it for $3500. Id never seen one that well optioned before. Never seen one since. Orig owners husband ordered it for her new it was her daily! lol Her son sold it off as fast as he could once she handed it down to him. Promised he would keep it in the family. As much as I Wanted it I told him he was an idiot as it was super rare He wanted a new japanese car and said it was an old piece of chit. CLueless!

[@Whats-It-To-Ya]

My neighbor growing up had two Javelins. Both were light blue with a white 'c' stripe on the sides, I think they're called scallops. I think they were 71s and they were both four speeds. Can't remember which V8 motor they had. They actually weren't that fast, my dad's '68 383 Roadrunner blew the doors off of them multiple times. He still has them rotting away in the garage. I just don't understand why he wanted two of them with the same color.

[@idesofmarch2368]

Beautiful car. I used to have a white '70 AMX similarly equipped to this one. Not nit-picking but aren't those rims incorrect? They appear to be from a '68.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Could be. I think for ‘70 they went to the Ford/Mopar style Magnum 500s with the trim rings.

[@tommytomtom5531]

I have owned my gold level 1970 AMX 390 4 speed for 41 years. Such a thrill to own and drive and show. This one is nice. The engine and trunk could use a clean-up. I am impressed that the clock works. Drive it proudly !

[@gordocarbo]

Best yr ever for an amx. Love the cold air induction, was 2 when these were new. | Must have been neat to bring one of these home brand new from the dealer

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

Always had a soft spot for these {being a MOPAR guy} since the early '70s because my neighbor was an AMC junkie & had many of them sitting around his yard & his daily driver back then was a green 1969 Javelin 390 4sp! In 1983 I had a yellow with black stripes & interior 1973 Gremlin that I drove to school my sophomore year, I bought the car in great shape for only $1200! I love the Georgia Bulldawgs {2021 National Champs} colors on this one but that fudge packer tag on front has got to go...lol! PEACE LOVE n HIPPYNESS ✌❤☮

[@musclecarcampy9922]

One thing about this car that struck me is it only had two ducts for the AC, whereas any other brand would likely have four. Probably a cost-saving measure.

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

@@musclecarcampy9922 yea that was actually a cost saving measure since AMC outsourced a lot of their parts from other manufacturers as they didnt have the funds like the big 3

[@tommytomtom5531]

AMC had NOTHING to do with "Mopar". Just as Mercedes had nothing to do with "Mopar". Now that Chrysler bought Mercedes that makes Mercedes Chyslers by that same logic. Tell a Mercedes owner that you like their "Mopar" and see what he says. Same thing I will tell you when you call my AMX a "Mopar". STOP CALLING AMXs "MOPARS"

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

@@tommytomtom5531 Huh??? I just said I was a MOPAR guy & always loved those AMC's & you go off on this menstrual rage, take a Midol & calm your ovaries before you go full blown PMS! And just so you know AMC used many parts from Chrysler, Ford & Chevy since they were broke almost constantly thru the '60s & '70s & after 1972 AMC started using the 727 MOPAR Torqueflite tranny in almost all their V8s! I lived that era & my cousin had a '69 390 & '71 360 Javelin even though our grandpa owned a MOPAR dealership from 1946-1979! And to school you a little more it was Mercedes that bought Chrysler in '98 {DiamlerChrysler AG} & unfortunately the powers to be at Benz didnt know how to develop & grow & was unwilling to contribute to anything related to Chrysler basically screwing the Chrysler Corporation over leading to one of the biggest merger mistakes of all time & their split in '07! Also remember that it was Chrysler that bought out AMC & Jeep! Never been a fan of Mercedes drivers, too much estrogen that makes them bitchy & whiny just like some other "drivers" that get their panties in a bunch!

[@tommytomtom5531]

@@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman Chrysler bought Jeep in 1979 so therefore my AMX COULD NOT be a "Mopar" Agree ? or disagree ?

[@Rieju-Sherco]

BEST Year made!!

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Possibly.

[@audieconrad8995]

That car appears to be in gr8 condition. The 360 was no slouch.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

It was running well and was definitely strong.

[@audieconrad8995]

@@musclecarcampy9922 sweet. The '70 360/390's had the dogleg exhaust ports, the 360 was new starting that year from the former 343 Typhoon. The 390 was a step up from the previous 2 years and gained a few more factory ponies from the re-design. As with all the car companies the '70 model year was as good as it got - AMC was no exception.

[@montereyf7692]

Don't like the music but like the car

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Thanks for watching. On the plus side, there is only about 10 seconds of music, so you don't have to suffer too much. I hope you'll subscribe.

[@musclecarfan74]

Great car, I know Kenosha well.

[@mikecernick5575]

Yeppers nothing compared to its uniqueness and nice body lines . Like it or not I’m addicted and for all the haters thanks because without them there would none available .

[@musclecarcampy9922]

I am quite fond of the ‘68-70. Wish I had one.

[@manueljfrancisco5480]

Nice👍😎

[@rickwaldron4255]

James dean had a magnetic personality he was born with it same as elvis presley as soon as you looked at them you were intregged

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Back home in Indiana.

[@peteskipeteski4464]

I gave the 390th "Like"!!